Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2025
The Human-Animal Chimera Prohibition Act of 2025 would add a new chapter to Title 18 of the U.S. Code that broadly bans creating and handling certain human-animal chimeras. A “prohibited human-animal chimera” includes embryos or organisms that combine human and nonhuman cells or nuclei in ways that would make the organism’s species origins uncertain, as well as embryos or organisms that contain human brain tissue, human gametes, or human-like facial features. The bill prohibits activities such as creating these chimeras, transferring embryos across species, and transporting or receiving such chimeras, if done knowingly and affecting interstate commerce. Penalties include up to 10 years in prison and substantial civil fines for those who derive financial gain from violations. There is a narrow carve-out allowing certain research involving transgenic animals with human genes or transplantation of human organs or tissues into animals, provided those activities are not otherwise prohibited by the new section. The bill also adds a technical cross-reference to place the new chapter in the federal code. In short, the bill aims to prevent the development and transfer of human-animal chimeras with human brain development, human-like features, or human genetic contributions beyond specified limits, while leaving a limited pathway for some related biomedical research that does not run afoul of the stated prohibitions.
Key Points
- 1Defines a broad category of “prohibited human-animal chimeras,” covering embryos and organisms with mixed human/nonhuman cells or nuclei, mixed human chromosomes, human brain tissue, human gametes, or human-like features.
- 2Prohibits knowingly creating, transferring between species, or transporting/receiving a prohibited chimera (in interstate commerce); violations carry criminal penalties (up to 10 years’ imprisonment) and civil penalties for gains.
- 3Establishes a specific definition of “human embryo” as an organism from 1 cell up to 8 weeks of development.
- 4Includes a limited rule-of-construction carve-out allowing certain research involving transgenic animals with human genes or the transplantation of human organs/tissues into animals when those activities are not prohibited under the new section.
- 5Requires a technical amendment to add Chapter 52, “Certain types of human-animal chimeras prohibited,” to the table of chapters in Part I of Title 18.